Sparrow walked through the gates of Fairfax Gardens and was mobbed by her children.
"Mummy!"
"Welcome home! I missed you!"
"Did you fight any monsters this time?"
"Mum! You're back! Yes!"
"Hello mummy!"
She smiled as she viewed her children. She gave them all a massive hug and smiled at her husband.
"There's a letter here for you," Bill said. Sparrow smiled, and took it.
"You go ahead-I'll get ready," Sparrow whispered. Bill sprinted away. She opened the letter.
Dear Queen of Albion, formerly known as Sparrow.
My dear, it gives me great pleasure to know about your various escapades with the society of Bloodstone. I had no idea that you were like that.
However, I'm not sure all the nobles would appreciate knowing that their queen is a serial amoureux. In fact, I think they'd be shocked and horrified to discover their queen is in fact no better than me when it comes to morality.
You do understand the predicament this puts me in, of course. Here I am, with all this juicy gossip, and an empty bed. I don't suppose I need to tell you exactly what I want, do I?
You're a clever woman, Sparrow; don't make this hard on yourself.
Yours truly,
Reaver
Marine was talking to a guard when she heard Sparrow yell "REAVER!" The two women hurried indoors.
"Sparrow?"
"That stupid, good-for-nothing, scumbag of a pirate…" Sparrow was hissing.
"What's wrong?" The woman in question looked at her.
"Reaver has been doing some digging around, Marine. He says he'll reveal my 'little Bloodstone life' to the respectable types if I don't…well, either one of us doesn't sleep with him, the perverted scummy piece of hobbe excrement that he is." She went and sat in her throne heavily.
"Your highness." Marine's eyes were as cold as the ocean after which she had been named. "I advise that you put a high bounty on him." Sparrow looked at her.
"He would kill the bounty hunters, Marine. Killing is his job. Innocent people won't die simply because I feared the consequences of my promiscuity. You will stay here. You're in love and engaged. Me, he can have. But not you. You're the boundaries," she said. She hugged her friend, and stepped into a cullis gate. "See you soon, Marine!" she said brightly, and disappeared. Marine sighed.
Oh, Sparrow. Your noble intentions will no doubt land you in hot water, she thought, upset. Right, I'll look after the terrors-I mean, uh, adorable little things until she returns. The poor things barely see her. I'm like their elder sister. And then, when they're in bed, I'm off to see Rick! A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth when she thought of her handsome young fiancé. He had proposed to her several days ago. He had been in her thoughts the entire time since. She giggled and walked outside to where the kids were having a tug of war with some aristocrats.